2009   2008   2007   2006   2005   2004   2003

Unrest in Mannar following torture of young man by police

A policeman who was washing at a well in Thalvupadu called a young man aged 17 who was passing by to come very near him. When the young man refused the policeman is said to have thrown a coconut shell at him. Young man fell to the ground and lost consciousness as the coconut shell hit him. The policeman then came near the young man who has lost his consciousness and attacked him. The young man whose name is Juli was found later with bloody wounds to his genitals and may other parts of his body. He was admitted to the Anuradhapuram hospital several kilometers away because he was seriously injured.

Juli the young man whose family was originally from Jaffna has been living in Thalvupadu for a long time. Juli was studying G.C.E.A.L class in Jaffna. He has come to Thalvupadu to visit his family during the holidays.

People outraged by the incident took to the streets in protest. There were clashes between the one hundred families in Thalvupadu and the police. The crowd burnt down the security post in front of the police station and the fence around a well used by the police. The crowd also burnt tyres along the path to the police station. The crowd demanded identification of the policeman who committed the crime and strong disciplinary action against him.

In the afternoon, police from Mannar were coming towards Thalvupadu in two tractors and five jeeps. There were clashes between the crowd that was blocking their way and the police. Police used batons and tear gas to disperse the crowd. Many civilians were injured in the incident. At 6.30 pm a meeting to resolve the problem between the people and the police took place in the area church under facilitation of the church priest. However, when night fell the area remained tense.

One dead and an LTTE cadre injured in grenade attack on the LTTE office in Mannar

A grenade was thrown at the LTTE office in Mannar situated on the Thalaimannar road at 7.50 pm on Saturday. One civilian, M Kalisras, aged 29 died as a result. The dead man has gone to the LTTE office with another person to attend to a personal matter. When they knocked at the office an LTTE cadre opened the door for them. At that time a group that drove past in a three-wheel vehicle threw the grenade and drove away. Kalisras who was seriously injured was taken to the Mannar hospital and died there. Vijayan who was with the dead man also sustained serious injury to his thigh. The LTTE cadre who opened the door for them was injured on the face. Both men have been admitted to the Mannar hospital.

13 February 2005

Print this

Email this